CowboySam: Day 1 - Registration

It was a dark and stormy night, although it really was about 8am in Carbondale, IL. I was going to get up at 5am and drive to KC early. That didn't work out. I woke up at 7am and lounged around with a cup of coffee. I finished packing the Beast and got on the road around 9am which is during the same day, so I figured I was was doing well.

I hate driving the Beast through IL. For some reason they think it's safe to only go 55mph in a large vehicle while everyone else on the road is doing 65+. I'm not sure of the logic, but then this is the state that elected Blagojevich to be governor. I'm finding there's a huge difference between northern IL and souther IL too. Sometimes I feel I've been transported to another planet.

I digress, I enjoy driving through St Louis. The traffic isn't so bad and it's fun to drive right by the Arch. Someday I need to venture to the top of the structure, but not today. I have a rodeo to attend.

Gas is cheaper in MO than in IL. I wasn't smart enough to fill up with the cheaper stuff in the middle of the state. I waited until I was near KC and the price went up 8 cents a gallon. I made a mental note for the return trip.

I didn't realize you needed to head through Kansas to get to the Lone Wolf Arena. Cool! I get to put another sticker on my map. I dutifully followed my GPS and it didn't fail me this time. I was a little concerned when the pavement ended and it told me to take the dirt road. The MGRA folks did put up signs which helped. So after 6 hours I arrived at the rodeo grounds. It was wet and muddy so I parked on top a hill and walked down to find out where my new home for the next three nights was going to be.

I was given a choice of having electricity for $20 a night or I could park in the parking lot. Since I'm fully self-contained I choose the latter. It was rather a nice convenient location. I leveled up the Beast, pulled out the slides, and had a beer.

Kelly Peebles from NM was my bunkmate for the weekend, so after getting settled I gave him a call. He was already at the arena. He had arrived the night before and found a ride down. We planned on partnering in Goats again. I needed to redeem myself for my lack-luster performance in Denver in July. We gathered his stuff and got him settled in the Beast. Then it was about registration time. He likes to be one the first to sign up, so we walked over a little before 6pm. Kelly registered right away, but I needed a Wild Drag female and a Deco partner, so I stood around whoring myself out. Apparently it worked. Donna from DeKalb IL needed a Wlld Drag team. She buckled in Chicago in the event so I was ecstatic. I'd met Donna and her girls on the circuit so I knew this was going to be a great time. I talked Donna into doing Deco with me too. Yee haw!!! Our Drag Drag Red from MI couldn't fly in until the morning, so I was all set. Time for more beer

There was a homorodeo party up in KC, but I didn't have a ride and Kelly needed to be at a Trustee meeting after registration closed. I was getting hungry so I offered to cook supper. Come to find out that Kelly and I are probably the only two vegetarians on the rodeo circuit. So we got along great.

Before long the effects of the 6 hour drive, alcohol, and full tummy took over. It was time for bed. After sucking at the Denver and Chicago rodeos, I was ready for the morning to arrive..... I was hoping that I'd pick up some hidden skills or secret rodeo knowledge by osmosis from being so close to Kelly. After all, he's one of the best on the circuit. It's nice sleeping on the grounds. It gives you an extra couple of hours to sleep. The rodeo was scheduled to start at 9am....